Mobile graveling apparatus and method



June 20, 1967 M. E. LAYNE ETAL MOBILE GRAVELING APPARATUS AND METHOD 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 15, 1965 J m w M M w R a 5 M m r v 7 0 4 4 v n WW m 6 1 M m Y z n 5 x JM June 20, 1967 M. E. LAYNE ETAL 3,325,608

MOBILE GRAVELING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Sept. 13, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 &

An fan/0 Guevara 4/ c/Zae 0. Va 0/79 Max E, Z ayne INVENTORJ June 1967 M. E. LAYNE ETAL MOBILE GRAVELING APPARATUS AND METHOD 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 15, 1965 A/7/0/7/0 66/6 Ira/'0 (/56 0 ou/7 Max Z INVENTORS BYM ATTORNEVJ M. E. LAYNE ETAL MOBILE GRAVELING APPARATUS AND METHOD June 20, 1967 Filed Sept. 15, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Joe 0. ou/79' Max 5. Lay/7e INVENTORS MM Wm A r ro /vs .m

June 20, 1967 M. E. LAYNE ETAL 3,326,603

MOBILE GRAVELING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Sept. 13, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 2 ,4 20/7/0 60a vorv c/r.

z/e 0. )/0U/7 9' Max f. lay/7e INVENTORI ayzwam/u" United States Patent 3,326,608 MOBILE GRAVELING APPARATUS AND METHOD Max E. Layne, Antonio Guevara, Jr., and Joe 0. Young, all of Houston, Tern, assignors to Layne & Bowler, Inc., Houston, Tex., a corporation of Maryland Filed Sept. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 486,661 4 Claims. (Cl. 302-14) This invention relates to a compact mobile graveling apparatus and method. More particularly, it relates to an integral graveling unit mounted on a trailer for ready transport to the well site, and an improved method of graveling-packing a well.

Briefly, the invention comprises a compact apparatus suitable for graveling a -well comprising a mobile unit which includes a generally flat bed, the bed having mounted thereon a tank suitable for containing the gravel to be deposited in the well, the tank having inlet and outlet conduits connected thereto, the inlet conduit being connected to a source of fluid under pressure, the outlet conduit being connected to the well, and racks containing a plurality of pipe lengths, the pipe lengths being readily removable from the racks and connectable to each the inlet and the outlet conduits in order to facilitate circulation of the fluid under pressure through the tank, and flow of the gravel into the well.

The invention further comprises a portable apparatus suitable for depositing material in a well comprising a generally flat bedded trailer, a cylindrical tank mounted on the trailer which includes means for introducing into the tank the material to be deposited, and a section of reduced diameter at the bottom thereof, an inlet conduit in 'fluid communication with the section of reduced diameter and with a source of fluid under pressure through at least one pipe length, an outlet conduit in fluid communication with the section of reduced diameter and with the well through at least one pipe length, wherein the trailer contains means for mounting said pipe lengths when not in use.

In another embodiment, the invention comprises an apparatus for depositing a liquid material in a well comprising a portable trailer having a generally flat bed, a tank mounted on the bed and adapted to contain the liquid material to be deposited, an inlet conduit near the top of the tank connectable to a source of gas under pressure, and an outlet conduit near the bottom of the tank in communication with the well, whereby application of a positive pressure by means of the inlet conduit forces the liquid material in the tank through the outlet conduit and into the well.

It is common practice in the oil industry to gravel or gravel pack a well. By this procedure, gravel is customarily packed into a well around a tubular element such as a screen. The gravel serves to support the formation and prevent cave-ins. At the same time, the porous nature of the gravel permits liquids to flow therethrough.

While graveling techniquesare well-known in the prior art, a difficulty has always existed in assembling all the necessary equipment at the -well in an economical and efficient fashion.

This invention provides a means for economical and eflicient assembly of the graveling apparatus at the well site, as well as an improved method for graveling a well.

In another embodiment, the invention provides an improved apparatus for depositing a liquid material, for example acids, surfactants, inhibitors or paraffin control ment of the invention will be described with reference 3,325,598 Patented June 20, 1967 "ice to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial side view of a graveling trailer according to one embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partial top view of the gravel tank and piping mounted on the trailer shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a view taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a view taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an end view of the graveling trailer of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 in more detail, a trailer 1 constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention is shown. The trailer comprises a body portion 2 with a generally flat bed portion 3 having downwardly depending sides 4. The body portion 2 is mounted on wheels 5 which are located at each end of a pair of tandem axles. Extending from the front of body portion 2 is an elongated tongue 6 having a supporting wheel 7 adjacent the front end of the tongue and a trailer hitch connection 8 at the end of the tongue remote from body 2 to permit attaching the trailer to a vehicle for towing. The tongue 6 is provided with a flat level supporting portion 9 on which a spare tire 10 and tool box 11 may be mounted although it is understood that other auxiliary equipment and supplies may. also be carried on the flat portion 9 of the tongue, and that the positioning or existence of such equipment is not critical to this invention.

Mounted on bed 3 generally centrally thereof are means for containing the gravel to be deposited in the well, such as tank 16. Racks 13, and 14 are mounted on bed 3 on the opposite sides of the graveling tank parallel with the sides 4 of the trailer and slightly inwardly thereof. The required piping connected to tank 16 to permit graveling is all located within the confines of the planes of racks 13 and 14, as generally shown at 15, at least some of the piping extending below the level of bed 3 to provide the inlet connections at the end of the trailer opposite tongue 6.

It is to be noted that racks 13 and 14 each project upwardly from bed 3, that each rack carries a pair of pipes 12 at each level of the rack, and that there are several tiers or levels of pipe supported by each of the racks 13 and 14. Adjacent the rear of the trailer is a platform 17 on which the operator of the graveling apparatus may stand to operate the valves of the gravel apparatus and to remove lengths of pipe from the racks in a manner which will subsequently be described in detail.

At least some of the pipes 12 conveniently include swivel connections 18 at the ends thereof. Such connections are especially desirable as the connecting lines must usually be inclined, and often need to be raised a significant distance above the level of the trailer 1.

Conveniently mounted on the bed portion 2 are means such as a post 23 having thereon a support tray 24, and this support tray is conveniently constructed (e.g. by swivel connection) so that it will turn in any direction; when a companion tray is mounted on the vehicle pulling the trailer, long lengths of pipe may be carried in these trays without upsetting when the vehicle turns a sharp corner.

Graveling tank 16- preferably contains an area 25 of reduced size located at the bottom portion thereof as shown in FIGURE 4. Though the tank may be of any suitable shape, a tank generally cylindrical in configuration and having an area of reduced diameter at the bottom thereof has been found to be particularly desirable.

Connected to tank 16 are means for loading the tank with gravel. Such means conveniently take the form of a hopper 19. Suitable means are provided, such as the cone valve 20, for allowing the gravel to flow into the tank from hopper 19. And, as will be readily understood, suitable means are provided for controlling such a valve, such as the actuating rod 21 which is actuable by lever 22.

The area of reduced size, or constriction, 25 is in fluid communication through tank inlet 26 to a source of fluid such as water or nitrogen gas under pressure, and through tank outlet 27 to the well. The source of fluid under pressure and the Well are remote from the trailer 1, and each must be connected through suitable pipe lengths to the tank. It is for this purpose that pipe lengths 12 are particularly useful. The communication from the source of fluid under pressure and the tank 16 is through a series of inlet conduits; the communication from the tank 16 and the well is through a series of outlet conduits. These various inlet and outlet conduits can best be understood by reference to the following explanation, which illustrates one preferred embodiment of a graveling operation performed by the apparatus illustrated in FIGURES 2-4.

Outlet line 41 is plugged, and the tank is filled with gravel. Then inlet line 28 is connected (as by lengths of pipe 12 from rack 13) to a source of fluid under pressure. With each of valves 43, 44, 45, and 46 initially closed, there is flow through inlet line 28 into conduit 29 and conduit 30 only, and this flow is allowed to continue until the pressure in the system, as shown by the pressure gauge 48 mounted in lines 29-30, is equalized at some predetermined value, for example 5000 p.s.i. or less. A pressure release valve 47 is included at the end of line 30 so that, if the pressure in line .30 exceeds the predetermined value, this valve will be opened and there will be flow through conduit 31 which is connected directly to outlet drain line 40.

After the pressure has become equalized at the desired value, circulation is established and fluid is allowed to flow into the well by opening the valve 44, which allows the fluid to flow through conduits 32, 33, and 36 and into the well through outlet line 37. After this circulation has been established, and it is desired to deposit gravel in the well, valve 43 is first opened and flow progresses through conduits 34 and 35 and thence through tank inlet 26 into the constricted area 25 of tank 16.

After the pressure in the tank has been equalized with the rest of the system, valve 45 is opened and the graveling operation is begun. The pressure and velocity of the fluid through the constriction 2S allow mixing of the gravel therewith, and the gravel-fluid mixture is carried from the tank through tan-k outlet 27 and thence to the well through conduits 42, 38 and outlet line 37. It will be readily recognized that the amount of flow through the tank 16 can be easily controlled by manipulation of valves 43 and 44. Thus, if valve 46 is in the full open position, all the flow will be through the tank if the valve 44 is closed. As the valve 44 is opened, more and more of the flow will be diverted directly to the well through conduits 33, 36 and 37, and a correspondingly smaller amount will flow through the tank 16.

When all the gravel in tank 16 has been deposited in the well, valves 43 and 45 are closed and the fluid is diverted directly to the well while the tank is reloaded. Before reloading, the pressure in the tank should be reduced to atmospheric, and this is conveniently done by opening valve 46 to allow the pressure to bleed off and the liquid in the tank to drain down to the point 3% by flow through conduits 39 and 40.

When the graveling job has been completed, the tank is drained by pulling the plug in line 41 and allowing flow from the tank through conduits .42 and 41.

There is also provided, in accordance with this invention, a means for depositing a liquid material in a well. Thus, a conduit 61 is connected at the connection 60 to line 29 which is connectable through inlet line 28 to a source of gas such as nitrogen or air under pressure. Line 61 enters the tank 16 near its top.

When the tank 16 contains the material which is to be deposited into the Well (for instance, a paraffin control chemical), such material may be forced into the well by opening valve 45 while valves 43, 44, and 46 remain closed, thus allowing the gas under pressure to flow into conduit 29 through inlet 28. The material in the tank will flow, of course, under the influence of a positive pressure in the tank through tank outlet 27 and conduits 42, 38, and 37 into the Well.

Thus it is seen that a compact unit is provided which allows for readily and conveniently graveling or treating a well, and the unit is portable and can be brought right up to the well site. Of course the advantages of such a unit are easily seen as all the difliculties and inefficiencies of the prior art are eliminated.

Whereas the invention has been describe-d in terms of a particularly useful embodiment, it Will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made herein without departing from the scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. A compact apparatus suitable for gravellin-g a well comprising:

a mobile unit which includes a generally flat be-d,'said bed having mounted thereon a tank suitable for containing the gravel to be deposited in the well, said tank having inlet and outlet conduits connected thereto;

said inlet conduit being connectable through at least one pipe length to a source of fluid under pressure,

said outlet conduit being connectable through at least one pipe length to the well; and,

racks containing a plurality of pipe lengths,

said pipe lengths being readily removable from said racks and connectable to each said inlet and said outlet conduits in order to facilitate circulation of the fluid under pressure through the tank, and flow of the gravel into the well.

2. A portable apparatus suitable for depositing gravel in a well comprising:

a trailer having a generally flat bed thereon;

a tank mounted on said bed, said tank being adapted to contain the gravel to be deposited in said well, said tank having in a bottom portion thereof a constriction into which gravel may flow by gravity;

an inlet conduit connectable through pipe lengths to a source of fluid under pressure in fluid communication with said tank at said constriction; and,

an outlet conduit connectable through pipe lengths to said well in fluid communication with said tank at said constriction,

wherein said pipe lengths are mounted during at least some periods of non-use on said trailer.

3. Improved apparatus for gravellin-g a well comprising:

a trailer which includes a generally flat bed, said bed having mounted thereon a tank suitable for containing the gravel to be deposited in the Well, said tank having inlet and outlet conduits connected thereto;

said inlet conduit being connected to a source of fluid under pressure,

said outlet conduit being connected to the well;

and,

racks containing a plurality of pipe lengths,

said pipe lengths being readily removable from said racks and connectable to each said inlet and said outlet conduits in order to facilitate circulation of the fluid under pressure through the tank, and flow of the gravel into the well; and, a post having at the top thereof a swivel-connected support tray adapted to hold long lengths of pipe, said pipe lengths being readily removable from said tray and connectable to each said inlet and said outlet conduits in order to facilitate circulation of the fluid under pressure through the tank and flow of the gravel into the well. 4. Portable apparatus suitable for use in depositing material in a well comprising:

a trailer which contains a generally fiat bed, said bed having mounted thereon pipe racks for holding lengths of pipe, a post having at the top thereof a swivel connected support tray for holding long lengths of pipe, a tank for containing said material, said tank having in the bottom thereof an area of reduced size;

a first series of conduits connecting taid tank through at least one pipe length with a source of fluid under pressure; and,

a second series of conduits connecting said tank through at least one pipe length to said well;

wherein said pipe lengths connected to said first and said second series of conduits may be retained on said pipe racks and said support tray when not in use.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,975,162 10/1934 Layne 302-14 2,660,034 11/1953 Kemper 302-17 3,070,243 12/1962 Lippke 302--36 3,219,275 11/1965 Green 239373 ANDRES H. NEILSEN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A COMPACT APPARATUS SUITABLE FOR GRAVELLING A WELL COMPRISING: A MOBILE UNIT WHICH INCLUDES A GENERALLY FLAT BED, SAID BED HAVING MOUNTED THEREON A TANK SUITABLE FOR CONTAINING THE GRAVEL TO BE DEPOSITED IN THE WELL, SAID TANK HAVING INLET AND OUTLET CONDUITS CONNECTED THERETO; SAID INLET CONDUIT BEING CONNECTABLE THROUGH AT LEAST ONE PIPE LENGTH TO A SOURCE OF FLUID UNDER PRESSURE, SAID OUTLET CONDUIT BEING CONNECTABLE THROUGH AT LEAST ONE PIPE LENGTH TO THE WELL; AND, RACKS CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF PIPE LENGTHS, 